Sorter-counter machine



' Sept. 6, 1932. BELlSLE 1,876,038

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SORTER COUNTER MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1929 a Sheets-Sheet s PatentedSept. 6, 1932 PATENT OFFICE FERNAND BELISLE, OF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADASORTER-COUNTER MACHINE Application filed November 8, 1929. Serial No.405,740.

This invent'on relates to a machine for sorting, counting and tabulatingpunched cards, usually known as a sorter-counter machine.

The primary object of this invention is to improve on such knownmachines, by speeding up the number of cards passed through the machine,by more effective mechanisms, and by a simpler construction.

Another object is to especially adapt such a machine for census work.

Another object is to so design such a machine that it can be easilyadapted for use in conjunction with an adding machine, as for instancethe Burroughs, for purposes of tabulating alone, or both t'abulating andprinting.

Still another object is to substitute air under pressure as a medium foroperating the counters of such machines, in lieu of direct mechanicalconnections or electro-magnets as now used on all well known suchmachines. By so using air, the element of uncertainty of operation everpresent where electricity is used, through short circu ting forinstance, is eliminated, and a machine of less complicated constructioncan be built to replace those depending on direct connections to operatethe counters.

Other objects will appear as the specification is read in the light ofthe drawings.

In the drawings and specification to follow, an acceptable form of myinvention is disclosed, but it is to be understood that I am not to belimited to that exact disclosure, and I wish to secure such other formsand modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a sorting machine made inaccordance with my invention, showing also a portion of a tabulatoroperated in conjunction with the sorting machine;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, but without the tabulator;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sorter head;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the control Figure 5 is a part-sideelevation and part section of the control block; a

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the bolt looking the carriage cams;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the lever ac tuating the locking boltshifting lever;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of one of the catches locking the valvelever;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the cam carriages or blocks;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of one of the carriage cams;

Figure 11 is a front elevation of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the endless chainsmounting the cam carriages;

\ Figure 13 is a perspective view of a link of the endless chains;

Figure 14 is an assembly showing a number of air pistons and otherrelated parts used in conjunction with the sorter;

Figure 15 is a side elevation taken approximately on line 1515 in Figure16; Figure 16 is a top plan View of Figure 14; Figure 17 is afragmentary front view of the valve board or system operativelyconnecting the sorter counters to the tabulator counters Figure 18 is aside elevation of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary elevation View of the valve rod;

Figure 20 is a section on line 20-20 in Figure 17 with valve rod notshown;

Figure 21 is a diagram showing method of operatively connecting sortercounters to the tabulator counters;

Figure 22 is a; section taken on line 2222 in Figure 3;

Figure 23 isa top plan view of the clip operating the carriagecam-locking device;

Figure 24 is a side, elevation of a carriage can1-operated clip; 7

Figure 25 is a side elevation of a carriage operated clip;

Figure 26 is a fragmentary enlarged section of the block:

Figure 27 is a fragmentary elevation of the counter lever actuating rodand cam;

Figure 28 is a perspective View of the block securing the cam operatedclips to their re- .spective deflecting plate shafts;

Figures 28A to 30 illustrate the application of my invention to anadding machine.

In the drawings, like numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the various figures.

The cards to be fed through the machine are stacked on the floor of whatis known as the card box, this box being located at the front end of thesorter head, and consisting merely of a rectangular space defined byupright members, as for instance (see Figure 3), side members 11 securedto the sorter head 10, front clips 12 slightly inclined rearwardly, andupright members 13 carried by cross-wise bars 14 secured to the sorterhead. The cards are fed into the bite of feed rollers 15, by blocks 16known as feed knives which are mounted to slide on rods 17, the knivesbeing reciprocated on their rods (see Figure 22) by cranks 18 turning oneccentrics 19 fixed to a shaft 19A the cards are thus fed one by onethrough the throat or clearance between the members 13 and the floor 20and into the bite of the feed rollers. Such a card box as justdescribed, the knives and the means of actuating the same, are wellknown and are now used on a number of sorting machines, as for instancethe Powers and the Hollerith machines.

The movement forwardly of each card becomes checked shortly after itleaves the card box, by engaging with what is called a gate 21 mountedto lower into the path of the card and subsequently rise to allow thecard to resume its forward travel through the machine; this gate, whichslides in grooves 22 between two spaced upright members 23, is normallyheld in a raised posi tion by springs 21, and is lowered by a lever 25pivoted to a cross member 26 secured-in the head 10, the lever, whichcarries a roller 27, being swung downwardly to lower the gate by theaction of a cam 28 fixed on a shaft 29 and riding on the roller 27. Theshaft 29 is operatively connected to the shaft 19A in a manner to bedescribed later, in such a way that for every complete stroke forwardlyand rearwardly of the knives 16, the gate will lower and rise, the gatebeing thus lowered and raised for every card ejected from the card box;the cam 28 is also so formed that the gate remains in the path of thecard only so long as is required to permit the sorter head 30 to performits intended function.

After leaving the sorter head, following the rising of the gate, thecard continues its travel forwardly to be eventually discharged outofthe machine or stored in sorting receptacles or compartments.

The sorter head 10 is firmly secured to suitable brackets 31 restingeither on a table or on the floor; in the head is mounted the controlblock 30.

The block 30 is mounted to alternately lower and rise, lowering toengage a perforated plate or card rest 32, or a card when one is stoppedby the gate after its ejection from the card box, and rising todisengage the plate, or the card, as the case may be, the card resumingits forward travel as the gate rises. The perforated plate 32 is on alevel with the floor 20 of the head 10 and extends to within a. shortdistance of the gate.

The block 30 has three rollers on each side, rollers 33 arranged inpairs to ride on the side faces of upright guide members 34: secured tothe head 10, and single rollers 35 arranged to ride on the inner facesof the guide members; the block is thus free to rise and lower withinthe head and its movement is constrained to a vertical one while theblock is maintained substantially in a plane parallel with the plane ofthe perforated plate.

The block is normally held clear of the perforated plate, as withsprings 36 (see Figure 2) fastened at one end to brackets 37 secured tothe block and at the other end,

in brackets 38 fastened to the sorter head 10. As shown, the block islowered by the action of cams 39, two fixed to a shaft 40 and two fixedto the shaft 29, the cams engaging four rollers 41journalled in the endsof members 42 mounted above the block; the cams are formed to lower theblock and retain same in co-operative engagement with the perforatedplate only so long as is required to permit the block to perform itsfunction.

The function of the block 30 is one of control, controlling theinstrumentalities which operate the devices counting the cards orcausing the cards to be sorted. In the present form of my invention, airunder pressure is utilized as a means or agent for operating thesedevices, and the air from a suitable source (not shown) is allowed toenter a chamber or cavity 43 (see Figure 5) in the block, or the flowthereinto checked, by the action of a valve 45 secured on the block. Thevalve stem 46 has a branch 47 operatively connected to the source by aflexible hose 47 A, the valve plunger 48 being raised and lowered by theaction of a pivoted lever 49; as shown, the lever is pivoted in brackets50 and is operatively connected to the valve plunger 4:8 by links 51 andpins 52 and 52A.

The valve opens as the plunger rises in the stem, and closes to checkthe supply of air as the plunger lowers to its normal or closedposition; dogs 53 pivoted as at 54 in brackets 55 secured to the blockor more particularly to one of'the members 55A mounting the rollers 33and 35, areformed and mounted to co-operate with the lever 49 to lockthe same in a'position corresponding to the closed position of thevalve, and to release the lever to permit of the same swinging to openthe valve and therefore admit air into the air chamber 43. The lever isthus locked by the dogs which have a spring 57 tied and tensionedtherebetween, the dogs swinging inwardly into the path of the lever whenraised, until their lower cam portions 58 engage with pins 59 mounted toslide through the block; the dogs are swung outwardly against the actionof the spring 57 as the lever swings downwardly and engages the slantingtop edges 60 (see Figure 8). 7'

A spring 61 (see Figure 2), tied at one end in a bracket 62 securedtothe outer end of the lever 49 and at the. other end, .in a bracket 63secured to the cross member 26 of the sorter head 10 and at a lowerelevalocked by the dogs 53.

The lever 49 carries a roller 64 positioned to engage with or rlde on acam 53B fixed on the shaft 29 when the block lowers to engage a card onthe perforated plate 32, the cam being formed with a notch 53A allowingthe outer end ofthe lever 49 room to swing downwardly under the actionof the spring 61 as the dogs swing outwardly to release the inner end ofthe lever. The lever will not swing to open the valve unless the dogs 53are swung outwardly to release the same, by the action of the pins 59which are slidably mounted and in engagement with the cam portions 58 ofthe dogs.

The function of the pins59 is to operate the dogs outwardly to releasethe lever 49 and therefore allow the valve to open, when acard is inposition upon the perforated plate, but to lock the lever to keep thevalve from opening when no card has been delivered to the perforatedplate; the pins are so positioned in the block and away from the gate,that they will engage any card in position upon the plate 32, but theywill simply enter two correspondingly-positioned holes 66 in the platewhen there is no card in position under the descending block 00.Obviously, the pins 59 normally project below the lower face of theblock 30 so that they may be actuated upwardly when the block engages acard. The pins 59 are normally held in inoperative POSltlOll by springs59A secured under the member A and tento align with an equal number ofholes or discharge outlets 69 through-the plate 32, and from the plate32 depend air conduits 70 leading to air-operated counters. WVhen theblock 30 has been lowered to engage a card now in position and stoppedon the plate 32, thevalve has operated to allow air to flow into the airchamber 43 and from the chamber, into the conduits corresponding to theholes in the card, and finally to the counters; the valve is closed asthe block again is raised, the air in the chamber being exhaustedthrough the holes 68. As many counters will be then operated by the flowof air as there are holes in the card.

Obviously, as many holes 68 and 69 are provided as the maximum number ofholes that may be punched through the cards and these spaced to ali n orcorrespond with one another.

The cardsmay be sorted or collected into a number of compartments, tothus form groups of same characteristics, after each leaves the sorterhead, and the number of cards in each group added by a separate counter.

The counters 72, 72A, 7213, etc., thus used nalled in the sorter head10; the shaft is operatively connected to the shaft 29 in a manner to bedescribed later, and rotates one revolution for every revolution of theshaft 29 so that the rod is lowered and raised once for each revolutionof the shaft 29; springs 89 tied to the counter levers and to pins 88(see Figure 15) and tensioned therebetween, pull the counter leversdownwardly as the rod 75 lowers, to actuate the levers and register onecount on the counters. With the lever of each counter co-operates a dogmounted to swing on a bracket 86 and formed at the upper end to beengaged by the free end of the counter lever so as to clear of the pathof the counter lever by air pistons, three of which are shown designatedby 90, 90A and 9013. Thus, while the rod lowers and rises for eachrevolution of the shaft 29, each air piston may operate to release thecorresponding counter lever, in a mfanner more particularly describedhereina ter.

The cards being carried forwardly between the feed rollers15 afterleaving the perforated plate 32, will continue until separately removedfrom between the feed rollers to be directed or discharged into theirrespective compartments, and the cards may thus be removed by the actionof deflecting plates 93, 93A, 9313 etc., fixed respectively, tocrosswise shafts 94, 94A, 94B etc., journalled in a frame 82, whichplates are singly turned upwardly to present an inclined surface in thepath of an advancing card. In a manner to be explained presently, eachcard leaving the sorter head is destined to a certain compartment, andthe corresponding deflecting plate will turn just in advance of thiscard and will close immediately after the card has been removed from thefeed rollers so as not to interfere with the passage of another carddestined to a compartment farther Co-operating with counter levers 7 777A, 77B etc., are levers 96, 96A, 96B etc., respectively, pivoted as at97, 97A, 97B respectively, on a standard or board 98, the levers beingformed to engage in slots 99 through each of the counter levers (seeFigure 15), so that the levers 96, 96A, 9613 etc., will be swungdownwardly about their pivotal points 97, 97A, 97 B etc., respectively,as and only when the corresponding counter levers 7 7, 77A, 77B etc.,respectively, are allowed to swing downwardly. From the levers 96, 96A,96B etc., are pivotally suspended trip rods 95, A, 95B etc.,respectively.

Mounted adjacent and in an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthe machine, are two endless chains 100 riding on tracks 10A supportedon cross members 10B, and carrying spaced blocks or carriages -101, thefunction of which is to cause the deflecting plate of one of thecompartments 93, 93A, 9313 etc., to be turned into the path of anadvancing card. The chains may be made to any suitable conventionaldesign, comprising links 100A (see Figure 13) pivotally connectedtogether by rollers-or pins 100B riding on the track 10A and spaced toturn on the "sprockets 109/ As shown the blocks 101 have a number ofcams 102 mounted on a hinge rod 103 to swing within notches 104 made ina member 105, the rod 103 being mounted in blocks 106 depending from andbelow the member the cams are separately and normally held in engagementwith the member 105 by springs 108 tensioned between the lower ends ofsaid cams and an extension 108A from the member 105.

The endless chains are trained around sprockets 109, two of which arefixed to the shaft 19A and lie below the rods 95, 95A,

95B etc., and the blocks 101 are each secured The cams are thus lockedby a bolt 111 (see Figure 6) mounted to slide under and parallel withthe hinge pin 103, the bolt having projections 112 sized to engage orslide into notches formed in one edge of each cam below its pivotalpoint.

The bolt 111 is moved to lock one or more of the cams 102 when swunginto operative position, by a lever 115 pivoted as at 116 to thecarriage and formed to slidably engage in a hole 117 through one end ofthe bolt; the lever 115 in turn is formed to slidably engage in anarcual slot 118 through a horizontally arranged lever 114 pivoted to thecarriage as at 119; from the lever 114 project two rollers 120 and 121.The bolt is thus moved to lock or unlock any of the cams when inoperative position, accordingly as to whether the lever 114 is swung oneway or the other. When the lever is in one position, say the lockingposition, the projections 112 in the bolt engage in the notches 110 ofthe cams, now swungin operative position, and when the lever is in theother, or normal position, the projections clear the notches permittingof the cams to swing back to normal position under the action of thesprings 108.

In order that the lever 114 may be swung to first lock, and then unlockthe cams, a clip 122, formed substantially as shown in Figure 23, ispositioned to be engaged by the rollers 121 and 120 as the carriagetravels forwardly with the endless chains 100. As shown, the clipterminates at the forward end in a-rounded or curved portion 122Aproject- Ving forwardly was to present an inclined face in the path ofthe rollers on the advancing carriage. Thus, as the carriage advances,

III

the roller 121 first engages the portion 122A and the lever 114 is swungin such a way as to cause the bolt 111 to be moved outwardly to unlockthe cams; when the carriage has moved farther ahead on its course, theroller 120 now engages the portion 122A and the lever is swung inwardly,causing the bolt to be moved so as to lock the cams.

On each of the shafts 94, 94A, 9413 etc., is

fixed a cam or clip 124 formed substantially as shown in Figure 24, theclips being staggered (see Figure?) so as to each be in alignment'withonly one of the carriage cams 102; the clips are thus positioned to liein the path of a swung cam of the advancing carriage, the function ofeacliclip being to cause the particular shaft to which it is fixed to berotated and thus turn-the particular deflecting plateinto the path ofthe next advancing card. A second clip 125 is also fixed to each of theshafts 94, 94A, 9413 etc;

these clips are all disposed in one line and formed with a curvedportion 125A (see Figure 25) to present an inclined face in the path ofthe next advancing carriage, the function of these clips being to turneach deflecting plate back into normal or horizontal position and thusallow the next .;advancing card an unobstructed path to a compartmentfarther on. Thus, a cam 102 is provided for each compartment, and thepar 'ticular clip 124 fixed to the shaft mounting the deflecting plateabove the particular compartment, is positioned in line with and onlythat particular cam, so that the function of any one cam 102, when swunginto operative or locked position, is to engage its particular clip 124and turn the deflecting plate of the particular compartment into whichan advancing card is to be directed and stored, The clips 124 and 125may be mounted on their respective shafts as with blocks 139 (see igure28) the clip fitting into a recess 139A. As shown, particularly inFigure 1, the

shaft 29 has fixed thereto a sprocket 137 driven from a sprocket 137A ofequal diameter, through a chain 138, the sprocket 137A being fixed onthe shaft on the shaft 40 is fixed a second sprocket 139 driven from asprocket 139A of equal diameter,

through the chain 140B, thesprocket 139A being fixed on the shaft 19A;thus, for every revolution of the shaft 19A, that is for every completestroke of the feed knives 16, the shafts 40/ and 29 will both rotate onerevolution, the cams 39 operating atithe same time to lower the block 30and allowing thesame to rise, alternately, while the cam 28 operates tolower the gate 21 and to allow the same to rise, alternately.

-;On the shafts 29 and 81 are fixed, respectively, the sprockets 140 and140A,- of

'. equal diameter, and a chain 141 trained therearound, so that forevery revolution of the shaft 29, and therefore for every complete:stroke of the feed knives 16, the shaft 81 is turned one revolution andthe cam operatesto lower and raise the rod 75. 4

' On the drive shaft 141A, driven from any suitable source (not shown),are fixedlworms 142 meshingwithworm gears 143 fixed on a number ofshafts 15A mounting the feed Hi rollers 15; on the first two feed rollershafts iioperatin'g to count are fixed gears 144 meshing with a gear144A fixed on the shaft 19A; power is transmitted from the second gear144 to the last of the gears 143 to be driven from the drive shaft, byintermediate gears .145 operating and disposed as shown, so that thefeed rollers 15 and the shafts 19A, 40, etc., are all driven from thesame drive shaft.

ner, having reference particularly to Figures 17 to, 21: the pipes orair lines 70 from the plate 32 are connected to the tabulator .130, eachof such lines operating one counter; from the lines leading to eachhorizontal row of counters on the tabulator, are branched off an equalnumber of lines 70A leading to a common line 7013 leading to one of thesorter counters, a suitable system of valves, shown diagrammatically as132 in Figure 21, being interposed between the lines 70A and the line 7OB; all of the lines 7 0 in any one horizontal row may thus be made tocommunicatewith one sorter counter, and a sorter counter is provided forevery such horizontal row of lines 70; as shown, the system of valvescomprises what might be called a valve board 133 on which are mounted anumber of valves or-more particularly rods 134, turning in cross members135 which are in effect valve casings; the pipes 70A are all connectedto the members 135, that is the lines 70A in each horizontal row of suchlines are each connected to a cross member, and there are as many rods134 as there are lines in any horizontal row; each rod has holes 136bored therethrough and spaced to be in alignment with all of the lines 70A in any vertical row of such lines; by turning any'rod or valve 134 byits lever 134A as by hand so as to allow air to pass through their holesor ports 1 36, and closing the other valves, the air lines 70A in anyvertical row of such lines become all connected to ,as many sortercounters and the sorter thus operated to count the punched holes in anyvertical lines on a card while at the same time, the tabulator iscontinuously the total number of holes in the carda- By providing avalve 70C in each of the lines 70B, the corresponding counter may bemade inoperative.

Figures 28A to 30 illustrate the application of my invention to anadding machine,

the adding machine 150, of conventional design, being secured to thestandards 31 byca-ny suitable means, such as removable cleats 151forming with extensions 152 from the standards 31, sockets adapted toreceive the legs 153 of the adding machine (see Figure 30).

Air pistons 154 are operatively connected to the perforated plate 32 ormore paticularly to the tubes 7 O, and are shown mounted in a wood head155 secured under the machine so that the piston plungers 156 may clearand engage the correspondingly spaced keys 157 of the adding machine;The pistons are retained in their spaced relation in the wood blockwhich is bored vertically to receive the same, the block being enclosedin a hollowcasting or box 158 secured to the machine. Springs 159 arepositioned above the pistons, below a removable plate 160 secured to thecasting, and allow the pistons to move upwardly to a limited extent tothus reduce the impact upon the keys of the adding machine. Preferably,each plunger is forced back into its cylinder by a coil spring 161compressed between the bottom casting and a shoulder 162 fixed to theplunger (see Figure 29).

What I claim is:

1. In a sortercounter machine and the like, a card box for the punchedcards, means forming a path for the cards from said box and operating tomove the cards forwardly in said path, means operating to discharge thecards successively from said box into said path, means operating tomomentarily stop a card in said path, a block formed with a cavityoperatively connected to a source of a fluid under pressure and adaptedto engage a card thereunder, a valve interposed between the source andsaid cavity,

means associated with said valve operable to close and open the sourceto said cavity, locking means co-operating with said valve operatingmeans operable to releasably lock said valve operating means when saidvalve is closed and card-operated means co-oper-.

ating with said locking means operable to release the same as said blockengages with the card. i

2. In a sorter-counter machine and the like, a card box for the punchedcards, means forming a path for the cards from said box and operating tomove the cards forwardly in said path, means operating to discharge thecards successively from said box into said path, means operating tomomentarily stop a card in said path, a block formed with a cavityoperatively connected to a source of a fluid under pressure, and movabletoward and away from said path, a valve interposed between the sourceand said cavity, a lever operatively connected to said valve andoperable to open and close the same, springactuated locks co-operatingwith said lever and normally locking the same when said valve is closed,and card-actuated means cooperating with said locks and operating toactuate the same to unlock said lever as said block moves towardsaidpath.

3. In a sorter counter machine, a card box for the punched cards, meansforming a path for the cards from said box and operating to move thecards forwardly in said path, knives feeding the cards successively intosaid path, storing compartments for the cards arranged along said path,card-removing means associated with said compartments and independentlyoperable to remove the cards from said path whereby the same may bedischarged into said compartments,

carriages travelling in an endless path, cams mounted on said carriagesoperab e to actuate said card-removing means to discharge allow the sameto swing and to bring same back to normal position for each completestroke of said knives.

4. In a sorter-counter machine, a card box for the punched cards, meansforming a path for thecards from said box and operating to movethe cardsforwardly in said path,

knives feeding thecards successively into said path, storingcompartments for the cards arranged along said path, 'card-rem0v- ;thecards into said compartments, rods independently movable into the pathof said cams to operate the same, levers suspending said ing meansassociated with said compartrods and independently swingable to bringsaid rods into the path of said cams, springoperated levers operativelyconnected with said first-mentioned levers, means co-acting with saidspring-operated levers and operating to allow the same to swing uponeach complete stroke of said knives, dogs co-acting with saidspring-operated levers and normally in the path thereof, and meanscoacting with said dogs selectively operable to move said dogs out ofthe path of said sprin -operate levers.

5. n a sorter-counter machine, a card box for the punched cards, meansforming a path for the cards from said box and operating to move thecards forwardly in said.

path, knives feeding said cards successively into said path, storingcompartments for the cards arranged along said path, card-removing meansco-operating with -said compart and independently swingable to lowersaid rods into the path of said cams, means coacting with said pivotedmeans operating to lower and raise the same for every complete stroke ofsaid knives, dogs normally in the path of said pivoted means, andair-operated means cooperating with said dogs selectively operable toactuate the same out of the path of said pivoted means.

6. In a sorter-counter machine and the like, a card box for the punchedcards, means forming a path for the cards from said box and operating tomove the cards forwardly in said path, means operating to dischargethecards successively from said box into said path, means operating tomomentarily stop a card in said path, a block formed with a cavityoperatively connected to a source of a fluid under pressure and adaptedto engage a card thereunder,a valve interposed between the source andsaid cavity, means associated.

with said valve operable to close and open the source to said cavity,locking means cooperating with said first mentioned means operable toreleasably lock said first mentioned means when said valve is closed,and springheld plunger-s slidably mounted in said block, card operableto engage with said look ing means and release the same.

7 In a sorter-counter machine and the like, a card box for the punchedcards, means 'forming a path for the cards from said box} and operatingto move the cards forwardly in said path, means operating to dischargethe cards successively from said box into said path, means operating tomomentarily stop a card in said path, a block formed with a cavityoperatively connected to a source of a fluid under pressure, and movabletoward and away from said path, a valve interposed between the sourceand said cavity, a lever/operatively connected to said valve andoperable gage with said locks and operating to actu- A moves toward saidpath.

ate the same to unlock said lever as said lock 8. In a sorter-countermachine and the ,like, a card box for the punched cards, means forming apath for the cards from said box and operating to move the cardsforwardly in i said path, means feeding the cards successfully into saidpath, storing compartments arranged along said path, card removing meansassociated with said compartments and independently operable to removethe cards from said path whereby the same may be discharged into saidcompartments selectively, a sorter head in said path having poweroutputs arranged in rows to correspend with the vertical and horizontalrows of holes that may be punched through a card, card-operated meansco-operating with said sorter-head, and controlling the output of powerfrom said sorter-head, a plug board having an equal number of powerinputs and power outputs arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, saidpower inputs being each operatively connected with each of 'said poweroutputs from said sorter-head, means operableto actuate said cardremoving means, movable means controlling the operation of said lastmentioned means, power operated means arranged in a vertical rowco-operating with said movable means and each operatively connected withthe power outputs in, each horizontal row on said board, and valve meansbetween the vertical rows of power inputs and power outputs on said plugboard operable to operatively connect said power-,

operated means with any vertical row of power outputs on said plugboard, selectively.

9. In sorter-counter machines, a plug board having spaced registeringports arranged in vertical and ,horizontal rows forming power inputs andpower outputs, a pipe connection common to all of the power outputs ineach horizontal row of such power outputs, a pipe connection separatelyconnected to each of the power inputs, and means between the powerinputs and the power outputs operable to selectively and operativelyconnect the power inputs and the power outputs in any vertical row.

10. In sorter-counter board having spaced registering ports arranged invertical and horizontal rows forming power inputs and power outputs, apipe connection common to all of the power outputs in, each horizontalrow of such power outputs, a pipe connection separately connected toeach of the power inputs, and vertically-journalled rods between thepower inputs and the power outputs in each vertical row adapteditoselectively and operatively connect the power inputs and the power outputs in any vertical row. A V 11. In a sorter-counter machine, a cardbox for the punched cards, means forming a path for the cards from saidbox and operating to move the cards forwardly in said path, knivesfeeding the .cards successively into said path, storing compartments forthe cards machines, a plug arranged along said path, card removing meansassociated with said compartments or inoperative position, meansindependently movable into the pathof said cams to actuate the same,means operatively connected with said last-mentioned means independentlyoperable to bring the same into the path of said cams selectively, and aslidable locking bolt on each of said carriages co-acting with said camsand releasably locking the same in operative position. I

12. In a sorter-counter machine, a card box for the punched cards, meansforming a path for the cards from said box and operating to move thecards forwardly in said path, knives feeding the cards successively intosaid path, storing compartments for the cards arranged along said path,card removing means associated with said compartments and independentlyoperable to remove the cards from said path whereby the same may bedischarged into said compartments, carriages travelling inan endlesspath, cams pivotally mounted on said carriages operable to actuate saidcard removing means to discharge the cards into said compartments,

springs between said cams and carriages resiliently retaining said camsin a normal or inoperative position, means 7 independently movable intothe path of said cams to actuate the same, means operatively connectedwith said last-mentioned means independently operable to bring the sameinto the path of said cams selectively, each of said cams having anotch, and a slidable locking bolt oneach of said carriages formed toengage in the notches in said cams when said cams are in operativeposition whereby said cams are releasably locked in operative position.

13. In a sorter-counter'machine, a card box for the punched cards, meansforming a path for the cards from said box and operating to move thecards forwardly in said path,

knives feeding the cards successively into said path,'storingcompartments for the cards arranged along said .path, card removingmeans associated with said compartments and independently operable toremove the cards from said path whereby the same may be discharged intosaid compartments, car riages travelling in an endless path, camspivotally mounted on said carriages operable to actuate said cardremoving means to discharge the cards into said compartments, springsbetween said camsand carriages resiliently retaining said cams inanormal or incams selectively, each of said cams having a notch, and alever-actuated locking bolt on each of said carriages slidable betweenan inoperative and an operative position, said bolt being formed withspaced projections disposed to engage in the notches in said cams whensaid cams are in operative position.

14:. In sorter-counter machines, a card box for the punched cards, meansforming'a path for the cards from said box and operating to dischargethe cards successively from a said box into said path, means operatingto momentarily stop a card in said path, a block formed with a cavityoperatively connected to a source of a fluid under pressure and adaptedto engage a card thereunder, a valve interposed between the source andsaid cavity, means associated with said valve operable to close and openthesource to said cavity, and means between said block and valveoperating means normally locking said valve operating means andcard-operable to release the same as said block engages with the card.15. In sorter-counter machines, a cardbox for the punched'cards, meansforming a path for the cards from said box" and operating to movethecards forwardly in said path, means operating to discharge the cardssuccessively from said box into said path,.means operating tomomentarily stop a card in said path, a block formed with a cavityoperatively con nected to a source of a fluid under pressure and adaptedtoengage a card thereunder, means for moving said block to engage thecard for every stroke of said card-discharging means, a valve interposedbetween the source and said cavity operable to open the source to saidcavity for every stroke of said card-discharging means, and meanslocking said valve and card-operable to release said valve as said blockengages with the card.

Signed at Ottawa, this 1st day of Novem-

